"The final analysis is that we are just short in both penalty areas," said Lawrence.

Quizzed about the Bluebirds' chances of finishing in the top six, he replied, "At some stage we are going to have to put a sequence of wins together if we are to have any chance of making the play-offs.

"At the end of the season I would rather finish six points off the play-offs than 10 or 12.

"It's equally important to get as close as we can to the top six if we don't manage to finish in it."

He added, "West Brom produced a slightly sub-standard performance against us but they have that ability to grind out results.

"At the moment we lack that. Hopefully it will come with experience. If we can develop the habit of grinding out results we will be where West Brom are.

"Generally we defended well, but we had three or four lapses of concentration and got punished twice. That's why we are where we are."

Amazingly, despite taking only two points from the last nine, City remain 12th and are still only five points adrift of the final play-off berth. That reflects how ordinary the First Division is this season.

The play-offs are still within sight but can the Bluebirds do it? Well, we are well into February and they have yet to beat a team in the top half.

They also lack a ruthless streak which would enable them to kill off teams. The match at Derby 10 days ago is a classic example. City should have had a two- or three-goal advantage before Leon Osman pounced to make it 2-2 in the 90th-minute.

City had three excellent opportunities against Albion but wasted all of them, Robert Earnshaw, twice, and Richard Langley the culprits.

"When you come to a place like West Brom you have got to take your chances," said Lawrence. "We spurned two gilt-edged chances. That's not a criticism. That's just what happened.

"Most of my players played to the best of their ability. It's hard to single anyone out and say, 'You didn't play well'.

"But lapses in concentration cost us. We conceded a needless free-kick for the first goal and Lee Hughes reacted quicker than us for the second.

"We have lost one point in this match but Derby was more annoying because we lost two there.

"We matched West Brom for most of the game. We definitely weren't second best. We deserved a draw - but no more than that.

"We gave a good account of ourselves and the result is massively disappointing because we showed great spirit to come back to 1-1."

City looked to have salvaged a creditable point against the Baggies when substitute Alan Lee cancelled out Neil Clement's opener after being on the pitch for only four minutes.

But, once again, Lawrence's men wobbled in the final minutes and Hughes was in the right place at the right time to poke home his eighth goal of the campaign.

A week earlier City chucked away two points at Derby. Now it was Albion's turn to inflict late misery on them.

"If you look at the statistics, 75-80 per cent of the goals we have conceded have come in the second half," remarked Lawrence.

"For the second time in a week we have conceded in the last five minutes. Our concentration seems to go towards the end of the game.

"This has only become a factor in recent games. Before, it wasn't a problem. But we need to put it right."

There was little to separate the sides in the first half with Earnshaw blowing a brilliant chance to silence the home crowd after only 50 seconds.

Albion started the second period aggressively and Clement headed them in front 10 minutes after the break, planting Jason Koumas' free-kick into the top corner of the net.

Lawrence replaced midfielder Langley with striker Lee and the gamble paid off with 11 minutes left when the Irishman glanced Graham Kavanagh's free-kick past Joe Murphy for only his second Bluebirds goal.

The visitors suddenly sniffed their sixth away win of 2003-04 and Earnshaw saw his 84th-minute effort disallowed for offside.

The Hawthorns, though, is not a happy hunting ground for the Bluebirds. It was here City were relegated to the old Third Division in 1974-75 and you have to go back to 1957 for their last win on Baggies soil.

And livewire Hughes ensured City's bad luck at The Hawthorns continued, stabbing the ball into the net as Thomas Gaardsoe's header from Lloyd Dyer's cross was bouncing wide of the target.